To qualify as a commercial driver hauling hazardous materials, you must satisfy both state and federal government criteria. Your commercial driver’s license is issued by the state where you live, although federal law sets some minimum requirements for obtaining a CDL and transporting hazardous materials that your state must test for. Federal law also requires that you undergo a security threat assessment. This assessment is mandated by the Patriot Act and conducted by the Transportation Security Administration.

CDL Hazmat Basics Eligibility

You can apply for a commercial driver's license from your state's motor vehicle department when you are 18 years old. However, federal law prohibits you from driving a commercial vehicle across state lines until you are at least 21 years old. You also need a special endorsement to your CDL to transport hazardous material. Federal law prohibits you from applying for the hazmat endorsement until you are 21 years old. Whenever you apply for or renew a CDL, federal law also requires that you disclose all licenses previously issued to you, regardless of type or state, for the past 10 years.

Hazardous Material Endorsement

Federal law sets the standards for endorsements to a CDL that are required to operate special types of commercial vehicles, such as tankers used to haul hazardous material. When you pass the required exam for an endorsement, a letter designation is placed on your CDL. For example, the designation "H" is for the hazardous materials endorsement, "N" is for the tanker endorsement and "X" is for both a hazardous materials and tanker endorsement. The tests for these endorsements are given by your state's agency that oversees commercial drivers, such as the State Highway Patrol in Missouri.

TSA Security Threat Assessment

Your state is prohibited from issuing a CDL to you with a hazardous materials endorsement until you complete the Transportation Security Administration's security threat assessment. You apply directly to the TSA for the assessment, either online or by phone, after you've been fingerprinted by a state-approved vendor. Your fingerprints are forwarded to the FBI to search for any criminal history records. If any are located, they will be forwarded to the TSA. The TSA should notify you within two weeks regarding the results of your assessment.

Security Threat Assessment Disqualifiers

If you've been convicted of certain crimes, you are permanently disqualified from receiving a hazardous materials endorsement for your CDL. These convictions include espionage, sedition, treason and any terrorist-related crime under either state or federal law. You cannot apply for a waiver or appeal a TSA decision regarding these criminal convictions; however, you can apply for a waiver or appeal a TSA decision regarding other convictions.